Carrie A Lee
@carriealee.bsky.social
Former public servant: Democracy, Civ-Mil, NatSec & Strategy. Senior Fellow @gmfus.bsky.social, Visiting Scholar @perryworldhouse.bsky.social, Member @cfr.org, Truman Project. Running enthusiast.
Pinned
Carrie A Lee
@carriealee.bsky.social
· Jun 5
Friends, followers, and colleagues: some professional news, as they say.
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
Hi folks! A few thoughts on this essay, and the questions that we *should* be asking, rather than the ones this Army officer seems inclined to answer. I haven’t done a CMR thread in a while so I’m overdue. 🧵
Hard to imagine a more sinister & dangerous argument, couched in euphemism & high-minded language. "This essay does not argue liberalism will collapse, only that [US] military officers should be intellectually (and spiritually) prepared for alternatives." warontherocks.com/2025/10/the-...
The American Military Officer After Liberalism
Across academia, government, and Silicon Valley, on social media, and in leading journals, intellectuals and political leaders are openly debating what
warontherocks.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Hi folks! A few thoughts on this essay, and the questions that we *should* be asking, rather than the ones this Army officer seems inclined to answer. I haven’t done a CMR thread in a while so I’m overdue. 🧵
Am honored to contribute to this special issue of Georgetown Law's Journal of Nat'l Security Law and Policy. I argue that Trump's efforts go beyond politicization and into personalization--to the extreme detriment of natsec and civ-mil relations.
nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/journal/2025...
nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/journal/2025...
Trump’s Second Term: The Personalization of the Military and Implications for National Security - Georgetown Law - Center on National Security
By Carrie A. Lee
nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu
October 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Am honored to contribute to this special issue of Georgetown Law's Journal of Nat'l Security Law and Policy. I argue that Trump's efforts go beyond politicization and into personalization--to the extreme detriment of natsec and civ-mil relations.
nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/journal/2025...
nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/journal/2025...
Today's @radiofreetom.bsky.social article for the Atlantic is a must-read.
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Today's @radiofreetom.bsky.social article for the Atlantic is a must-read.
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
On the left:
Sept 2: Judge Breyer opinion (in CA case) showing DoD's own instructions of actions that violate Posse Comitatus Act (eg "crowd control").
On the right:
Sept 26: DHS request to DoD for military forces in Chicago "in direct support of ... access control, and crowd control."
Sept 2: Judge Breyer opinion (in CA case) showing DoD's own instructions of actions that violate Posse Comitatus Act (eg "crowd control").
On the right:
Sept 26: DHS request to DoD for military forces in Chicago "in direct support of ... access control, and crowd control."
October 6, 2025 at 4:25 PM
On the left:
Sept 2: Judge Breyer opinion (in CA case) showing DoD's own instructions of actions that violate Posse Comitatus Act (eg "crowd control").
On the right:
Sept 26: DHS request to DoD for military forces in Chicago "in direct support of ... access control, and crowd control."
Sept 2: Judge Breyer opinion (in CA case) showing DoD's own instructions of actions that violate Posse Comitatus Act (eg "crowd control").
On the right:
Sept 26: DHS request to DoD for military forces in Chicago "in direct support of ... access control, and crowd control."
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon
Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'
www.oregonlive.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
NEW: Judge Immergut issues her written second TRO, blocking the Trump admin from deploying ANY federalized National Guard troops from ANY state in Oregon. (Full hearing thread below) storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 6, 2025 at 4:33 AM
NEW: Judge Immergut issues her written second TRO, blocking the Trump admin from deploying ANY federalized National Guard troops from ANY state in Oregon. (Full hearing thread below) storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
New ruling in Portland NG case, reaffirming the previous restraining order and restricting USG from deploying NG troops to Portland. And few notes on this based on some questions I’ve seen: 1/
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:07 AM
New ruling in Portland NG case, reaffirming the previous restraining order and restricting USG from deploying NG troops to Portland. And few notes on this based on some questions I’ve seen: 1/
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
🌊 "...while [this week's all-general meeting] did not spark an immediate crisis, it was a stark reminder that there are rough seas ahead for both the senior US officer corps and US partners across the Atlantic."
Read an analysis of this week's US military developments by Carrie Lee:
Read an analysis of this week's US military developments by Carrie Lee:
Rough Seas Ahead
When the Washington Post first reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had recalled hundreds of the United States’ most senior military commanders to Washington for an in-person…
www.gmfus.org
October 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
🌊 "...while [this week's all-general meeting] did not spark an immediate crisis, it was a stark reminder that there are rough seas ahead for both the senior US officer corps and US partners across the Atlantic."
Read an analysis of this week's US military developments by Carrie Lee:
Read an analysis of this week's US military developments by Carrie Lee:
My analysis of Tuesday's mtg:
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
Rough Seas Ahead
www.gmfus.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My analysis of Tuesday's mtg:
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
Am trying to write about the Dept of War change without using a gender lens (audience) and finding it basically impossible. Send words.
September 10, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Am trying to write about the Dept of War change without using a gender lens (audience) and finding it basically impossible. Send words.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
News Analysis: By ordering the U.S. military to summarily kill a group of people aboard what he said was a drug-smuggling boat, President Trump used the military in a way that had no clear legal precedent or basis, according to specialists in the laws of war and executive power.
Trump Claims the Power to Summarily Kill Suspected Drug Smugglers
The move to treat criminals as if they were wartime combatants escalated an administration pattern of using military force for law enforcement tasks at home and abroad.
nyti.ms
September 5, 2025 at 2:05 AM
News Analysis: By ordering the U.S. military to summarily kill a group of people aboard what he said was a drug-smuggling boat, President Trump used the military in a way that had no clear legal precedent or basis, according to specialists in the laws of war and executive power.
This was a completely predictable move that was enabled by everyone on the left screaming "wHaT aBoUt tHe rEd StAteS?!!" Mobilizing the NG to do policing in cities is wrong and unAmerican no matter where in the country they are located.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CRIME; it's just about intimidating people.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CRIME; it's just about intimidating people.
Trump: "We're making a determination now -- do we go to Chicago, or do we go to a place like New Orleans where we have a great governor who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that's become quite tough, quite bad?"
September 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This was a completely predictable move that was enabled by everyone on the left screaming "wHaT aBoUt tHe rEd StAteS?!!" Mobilizing the NG to do policing in cities is wrong and unAmerican no matter where in the country they are located.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CRIME; it's just about intimidating people.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CRIME; it's just about intimidating people.
David French has it exactly right.
Trump’s Domestic Deployments Are Dangerous. For the Military. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Trump’s Domestic Deployments Are Dangerous. For the Military. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Domestic Deployments Are Dangerous. For the Military.
www.nytimes.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:13 PM
David French has it exactly right.
Trump’s Domestic Deployments Are Dangerous. For the Military. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Trump’s Domestic Deployments Are Dangerous. For the Military. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
Our CEO, @lfschleusener.bsky.social, is thrilled to be in Ottawa this week to work with @smsaideman.bsky.social, @carriealee.bsky.social, and others on the future of @cdsn.bsky.social, one of our favorite longtime partners.
August 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Our CEO, @lfschleusener.bsky.social, is thrilled to be in Ottawa this week to work with @smsaideman.bsky.social, @carriealee.bsky.social, and others on the future of @cdsn.bsky.social, one of our favorite longtime partners.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
My take is that senior officers are completely unprepared for this moment.
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
What's a MAJ supposed to do when they watch GOFOs and COLs do nothing and say nothing about what went down with LA, the parade, Bragg, and criticism of MoH recipients?
There's no top cover, no leadership, no hard convos. Just abdication and servility from the top creating difficulties on down.
There's no top cover, no leadership, no hard convos. Just abdication and servility from the top creating difficulties on down.
August 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
My take is that senior officers are completely unprepared for this moment.
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy
Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
A senior administration official, as well as other officials, told Rolling Stone that it is a priority of Trump that these kinds of military deployments -- in times of relative calm -- become normalized in American political culture.
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
August 13, 2025 at 12:46 PM
A senior administration official, as well as other officials, told Rolling Stone that it is a priority of Trump that these kinds of military deployments -- in times of relative calm -- become normalized in American political culture.
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
I’m quoted in this story and would like to expand on what I’m talking about in terms of this not being how the NG has been used, historically.
Though first I should note that Joe Nunn is right on all counts. I’m just adding a little historical context.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Though first I should note that Joe Nunn is right on all counts. I’m just adding a little historical context.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon plan would create military ‘reaction force’ for civil unrest
Documents reviewed by The Post detail a new National Guard mission that, if adopted, would require hundreds of troops to be ready around-the-clock.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I’m quoted in this story and would like to expand on what I’m talking about in terms of this not being how the NG has been used, historically.
Though first I should note that Joe Nunn is right on all counts. I’m just adding a little historical context.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Though first I should note that Joe Nunn is right on all counts. I’m just adding a little historical context.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
Every activated Guardsman has a family, a job, school, or something that they are leaving to do their duty.
It’s one thing when it’s a war… or a real mass civil disturbance, which those only last a few days.
But to rip these people from their lives for a show… is awful.
It’s one thing when it’s a war… or a real mass civil disturbance, which those only last a few days.
But to rip these people from their lives for a show… is awful.
August 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Every activated Guardsman has a family, a job, school, or something that they are leaving to do their duty.
It’s one thing when it’s a war… or a real mass civil disturbance, which those only last a few days.
But to rip these people from their lives for a show… is awful.
It’s one thing when it’s a war… or a real mass civil disturbance, which those only last a few days.
But to rip these people from their lives for a show… is awful.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
This happening now. IDF strongly opposes this move which led to high profile clashes between politicians and the new IDF chief. I also think it’s bad.
It’s also a textbook case of civilian control and civilian right to be wrong.
#CivMilSky
It’s also a textbook case of civilian control and civilian right to be wrong.
#CivMilSky
Ministers meet to discuss full occupation of Gaza as protesters rally outside against proposal
Netanyahu says Israel aims to take control of Gaza, then hand it over to Arab forces * Haredi protesters block Route 4 near Bnei Brak, burn military draft orders in Jerusalem
www.timesofisrael.com
August 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This happening now. IDF strongly opposes this move which led to high profile clashes between politicians and the new IDF chief. I also think it’s bad.
It’s also a textbook case of civilian control and civilian right to be wrong.
#CivMilSky
It’s also a textbook case of civilian control and civilian right to be wrong.
#CivMilSky
Also, deference to exec judgement should be tossed along with presumptions of regularity. Courts often (for good reason) assume POTUS has access to better info and is working in public interest, esp on natsec. But recent reporting reveals intent to skirt the law. Can't assume good faith anymore.
3/This is no longer the DOJ courts can rely on to act in good faith. The “presumption of regularity” courts have afforded the gov’t, an assumption of good motives & proper behavior that the gov’t regularly pleads in court when accused of wrongdoing without evidence, no longer exists.
August 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Also, deference to exec judgement should be tossed along with presumptions of regularity. Courts often (for good reason) assume POTUS has access to better info and is working in public interest, esp on natsec. But recent reporting reveals intent to skirt the law. Can't assume good faith anymore.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
3/This is no longer the DOJ courts can rely on to act in good faith. The “presumption of regularity” courts have afforded the gov’t, an assumption of good motives & proper behavior that the gov’t regularly pleads in court when accused of wrongdoing without evidence, no longer exists.
August 5, 2025 at 11:49 AM
3/This is no longer the DOJ courts can rely on to act in good faith. The “presumption of regularity” courts have afforded the gov’t, an assumption of good motives & proper behavior that the gov’t regularly pleads in court when accused of wrongdoing without evidence, no longer exists.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
If you're using AI to write essays, eulogies, a text to your wife, I do think less of you as a person. Ceding your mental and creative abilities to a machine is an embarrassing thing and people should be ashamed to admit doing it in public.
![[quoting a tweet by fractalcounty that reads, “today I learned that there are actual people irl who get genuinely upset if they catch you using chatgpt. like they view it as a serious moral failing in certain circles”]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hppum4l25hcczzffastsicpq/bafkreihjvnz2ttxl7z4a2b3a4kylubobgvqxmjhwz6yuetuztzoc4g2s4y@jpeg)
August 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
If you're using AI to write essays, eulogies, a text to your wife, I do think less of you as a person. Ceding your mental and creative abilities to a machine is an embarrassing thing and people should be ashamed to admit doing it in public.
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
Strikingly, the memo says straightforwardly that what happened in Los Angeles is the sort of operation that may be necessary "for years to come."
As one expert told me: "They see Los Angeles as a model to be replicated."
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
As one expert told me: "They see Los Angeles as a model to be replicated."
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
August 2, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Strikingly, the memo says straightforwardly that what happened in Los Angeles is the sort of operation that may be necessary "for years to come."
As one expert told me: "They see Los Angeles as a model to be replicated."
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
As one expert told me: "They see Los Angeles as a model to be replicated."
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
Reposted by Carrie A Lee
NEWS --> An internal Homeland Security memo suggests Trump's use of military for domestic enforcement is about to get worse. It details top-level talks between Defense Department and DHS on what this should look like. Experts say it's alarming.
We obtained the memo:
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
We obtained the memo:
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
Trump’s Domestic Use of Military Set to Get Worse, Leaked Memo Shows
A Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by TNR signals top-level discussions about a potential escalation of the Pentagon’s domestic anti-immigration role, and lays out new details.
newrepublic.com
August 2, 2025 at 11:06 AM
NEWS --> An internal Homeland Security memo suggests Trump's use of military for domestic enforcement is about to get worse. It details top-level talks between Defense Department and DHS on what this should look like. Experts say it's alarming.
We obtained the memo:
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
We obtained the memo:
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
“The memo… speaks to the intent to use the military within the United States at a level not seen since Japanese internment,” Carrie Lee, senior fellow at GMF, told me… “We don’t want the military doing law enforcement. It absolutely undermines the rule of law.”
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
Trump’s Domestic Use of Military Set to Get Worse, Leaked Memo Shows
A Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by TNR signals top-level discussions about a potential escalation of the Pentagon’s domestic anti-immigration role, and lays out new details.
newrepublic.com
August 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
“The memo… speaks to the intent to use the military within the United States at a level not seen since Japanese internment,” Carrie Lee, senior fellow at GMF, told me… “We don’t want the military doing law enforcement. It absolutely undermines the rule of law.”
newrepublic.com/article/1987...
newrepublic.com/article/1987...